JALMOND
September 2nd, 2019, 11:54 AM
The first week of football is in the books and the Big Sky came out pretty well. They won all their games against the FCS (and the lone game against a lessor opponent), including the two against the mighty Missouri Valley conference and took the money in the FBS games. One game on the docket this week has two Big Sky teams, Cal Poly and Weber State, playing each other in a non-conference game, but the others continue playing out of conference opponents. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. All up for discussion.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, lost at Washington (Pac-12) 47-14, this week, Lindenwood (NAIA) at home---The Eagles gave a gallant effort on the road against one of the Pac-12's elite squad but could not fulfill the tough order. This week, a little easier time in their home opener.
2. UC-Davis (2)---Last week, lost at California (Pac-12) 27-13, this week at San Diego (Pioneer)---The Aggies did what they needed last week. They jumped on Cal early but unfortunately, the Bears then woke up and the Aggies could not keep up. This week has them going to the defending Pioneer champions.
3. Weber State (3)---Last week, lost at San Diego State (Mtn West) 6-0, this week Cal Poly at home---The defense gave the Wildcats many chances to win this game but the offense could not get on track The defense will have to carry them this week again and hope the offense can get on track.
4. Montana (5)---Last week, won at South Dakota (Mo Valley) 31-17, this week North Alabama (Big South) at home---The Grizzlies rose to the occasion last week and got a good road win over a good Missouri Valley team. They now get a good Big South team at home.
5. Northern Arizona (4)---Last week, beat Missouri State (Mo Valley) 37-23 at home, this week at Arizona (Pac-12)---The Lumberjacks got a strong home win against a good Missouri Valley team to open the new era. They have to feel good this week, especially seeing how Arizona struggled against Hawaii.
6. Montana State (6)---Last week, lost at Texas Tech (Big 12) 45-10, this week SE Missouri (Ohio Valley)---Stepping in to Big 12 land can cause some problems for the Big Sky and the Bobcats put a valiant effort together but could not get the win. They get their home opener against a solid Ohio Valley team.
7. Idaho State (7)---Last week, idle, this week Western Colorado (DII) at home--- The Bengals watched last week (even though I tried to make them play) and took the extra week to prepare. They open the season this week with a game against a DII opponent.
8. Portland State (8)---Last week, lost at Arkansas (SEC) 20-13, this week Simon Fraser (DII) at home---The Vikings showed up in SEC country and gave their opponent all they could handle. How that translates to the Big Sky remains to be seen. They get a DII team this week in their home opener.
9. Cal Poly (11)---Last week, beat San Diego (Pioneer) at home, 52-34, this week at Weber State---The Mustangs looked really good against the defending Pioneer League champs. They keep the offense going and they could give one of the heavies fits this week.
10. Idaho (9)---Last week, lost at Penn State (Big 10) 79-7, this week Central Washington (DII) at home---Was it the opponent or were the Vandals just not ready to play. Their game last week got ugly quickly. They need to pick themselves up this week as a good DII team is calling.
11. Sacramento State (12)---Last week, beat Southern Oregon (NAIA) 77-19, this week at Arizona State (Pac-12)---Matching an NAIA team toe to toe early on, the Hornets put on the jets and roared for a win. Things get tougher this week as a trip to the Pac-12 and the desert awaits.
12. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week, lost at San Jose State (Mtn West) 35-18, this week at Washington State (Pac-12)---The Bears did not back down from their upper division foe, staying within relative striking distance most of the game. They will need the same type of effort this week.
13. Southern Utah (10)---Last week lost at UNLV (Mtn West) 56-23, this week at Northern Iowa (Mo Valley)---A tall order for the Thunderbirds as they played up a level, but the opponent did not have a history of success and they were never really in the game. Things don't get any easier this week.
RECAP: 1-3 setting the pace, 4-8 right behind, 9-10 keeping up, 11-13 within striking distance.
1. Eastern Washington (1)---Last week, lost at Washington (Pac-12) 47-14, this week, Lindenwood (NAIA) at home---The Eagles gave a gallant effort on the road against one of the Pac-12's elite squad but could not fulfill the tough order. This week, a little easier time in their home opener.
2. UC-Davis (2)---Last week, lost at California (Pac-12) 27-13, this week at San Diego (Pioneer)---The Aggies did what they needed last week. They jumped on Cal early but unfortunately, the Bears then woke up and the Aggies could not keep up. This week has them going to the defending Pioneer champions.
3. Weber State (3)---Last week, lost at San Diego State (Mtn West) 6-0, this week Cal Poly at home---The defense gave the Wildcats many chances to win this game but the offense could not get on track The defense will have to carry them this week again and hope the offense can get on track.
4. Montana (5)---Last week, won at South Dakota (Mo Valley) 31-17, this week North Alabama (Big South) at home---The Grizzlies rose to the occasion last week and got a good road win over a good Missouri Valley team. They now get a good Big South team at home.
5. Northern Arizona (4)---Last week, beat Missouri State (Mo Valley) 37-23 at home, this week at Arizona (Pac-12)---The Lumberjacks got a strong home win against a good Missouri Valley team to open the new era. They have to feel good this week, especially seeing how Arizona struggled against Hawaii.
6. Montana State (6)---Last week, lost at Texas Tech (Big 12) 45-10, this week SE Missouri (Ohio Valley)---Stepping in to Big 12 land can cause some problems for the Big Sky and the Bobcats put a valiant effort together but could not get the win. They get their home opener against a solid Ohio Valley team.
7. Idaho State (7)---Last week, idle, this week Western Colorado (DII) at home--- The Bengals watched last week (even though I tried to make them play) and took the extra week to prepare. They open the season this week with a game against a DII opponent.
8. Portland State (8)---Last week, lost at Arkansas (SEC) 20-13, this week Simon Fraser (DII) at home---The Vikings showed up in SEC country and gave their opponent all they could handle. How that translates to the Big Sky remains to be seen. They get a DII team this week in their home opener.
9. Cal Poly (11)---Last week, beat San Diego (Pioneer) at home, 52-34, this week at Weber State---The Mustangs looked really good against the defending Pioneer League champs. They keep the offense going and they could give one of the heavies fits this week.
10. Idaho (9)---Last week, lost at Penn State (Big 10) 79-7, this week Central Washington (DII) at home---Was it the opponent or were the Vandals just not ready to play. Their game last week got ugly quickly. They need to pick themselves up this week as a good DII team is calling.
11. Sacramento State (12)---Last week, beat Southern Oregon (NAIA) 77-19, this week at Arizona State (Pac-12)---Matching an NAIA team toe to toe early on, the Hornets put on the jets and roared for a win. Things get tougher this week as a trip to the Pac-12 and the desert awaits.
12. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week, lost at San Jose State (Mtn West) 35-18, this week at Washington State (Pac-12)---The Bears did not back down from their upper division foe, staying within relative striking distance most of the game. They will need the same type of effort this week.
13. Southern Utah (10)---Last week lost at UNLV (Mtn West) 56-23, this week at Northern Iowa (Mo Valley)---A tall order for the Thunderbirds as they played up a level, but the opponent did not have a history of success and they were never really in the game. Things don't get any easier this week.
RECAP: 1-3 setting the pace, 4-8 right behind, 9-10 keeping up, 11-13 within striking distance.